United Grand Lodge.

n , nrd beg to recommend to Grand Lodge the fol-? r -. Iteration in the Book of Constitutions , page 114 , lowing omit in the second line the words— " at time art . 4 > . . " ' ^ "f . {' ' resident will therefore move accordingly . ( Signed ) J A . RUCKER , President , iv-eniasons * Hall , London , 2 nd February , 1875 . " __ Keport ° f Bro - - p < Harding , Auditor of Grand ' lie Accounts , of receipts and disbursements during the

yC ^ , ' proposed motions : — ,. 1-Bv Bro . J . H . Wynne , P . M . No . 554 . " That this Grand Lodge do order to be given from the Fund of Benevolence , the sum of five pounds to each unsuccessful candidate at the next general election for nnnu'ifints in 1875 for old men and women belonging to

the Craft of Freemasons . " 2 _ B y Bro . John Constable , P . M . No . 185 . " That the sum of £ 100 be voted from the funds of Grind Lodge towards the fund now being raised for the purpose of endowing the Freemasons' Life Boat , stationed at North Berwick in 1872 . "

Reviews.

Reviews .

" Debrett ' s Peerage and Baronetage . " Dean and Son , 106 a , Fleet-street . Theso two indispensable works for all alike come before us with every claim not only for commendation but admiration . Handsome in appearance , and skilful in arrangementthey give us a great deal of very needful

, information , in a very small space . They are useful as books of constant reference to many persons day by day , and no public office is complete without them , just as we venture to think that few good libraries should be without them . Indeed , they ought to stand on every writing table ,

especially on those ot writers like ourselves , who are often indebted to them for the names of those who play an important part in public life , or who compose what fairly may be termed our upper English ten thousand , and even more ! Alasonic Calendars for Durham , Dorsetshire , and

Oxford-. These three little manuals are very useful to the good brethren of the above named counties , and to us who live far away . They are all admirably got up , very neatly printed , contain a great deal of local information , and reflect every credit on their industrious conpilers . They are put forth by well known brethren , and we wish them

every success . "The Child's Bible . " Cassell , Petter , and Galpin . Our attention has been called to this very pretty juvenile work of Messrs . Cassell , which appears to us full of promise . As a little scriptural reader or primer for the young , it is sure to be ' appreciated , and we doubt not will be largely patronised by many earnest little students . May all of

good attend them . " The Itpman Fisherman . " By an Observer of the System . Matthews and Mcintosh . This is the " old , old story , " though perhaps told to a slight variation of time . It seems able and vigorous , but is purely controversial . And though in the recent " escapades" of the Roman Catholic authority , we have had to

endure all the virulence of intolerance and all the folly of fanaticism , yet , as Freemasons , we are not controversialists , and long may we keep out of alike the " certamen" and the " odium thcologicum . " Rome is still Rome , and always will be Rome , and our best policy is to go on our own way , utterly heedless alike of her censures and of her maledictions .

"Some Account of our Masonic Charities , " by Bro . Ilanlon , P . M . Andrews , Manchester . This is a somewhat ambitious little book , and is also a little indistinct in its recommendation . We confess that after reading it twice over we do not exactly understand the drift of our good brother ' s remarks . We do not clearly understand what he terms the home system . If we

understand his aim rightly , he would revert to the old idea of our educational establishments , and have the children educated at the school nearest their dwellings and to live at home . But suppose they have no home ? What then ? Are we to have Alasonic boarding out ? We have no doubt of the good intent of the writer , but we fear he has hardly yet mastered the leading principles of educational

work . If there is one thing clearer than another it is this , that what he calls the home system is about as unsatisfactory a system as can well be devised , and that we have in our great Boys' and Girls' Schools now , the best arrangements and the most scientific appliances , with the best ol results , for the orphans and their friends . But we may have misunderstood Bro . Hardon .

Scottish Freemasonry.

SCOTTISH FREEMASONRY .

We have been requested to publish the following letter : — British Post Office , Haskien , Constantinople , Feb . 3 rd , 1875 . J- LAURIE , ESQ ., Grand Secretary , G . L . S . Hear Sir and Brother , —

I have noticed with pleasure that our Scottish brethren have at last been aroused to a sense of duty , a step in the right direction , and too much praise cannot be given to the promoters of this laudable and long-needed wject . To establish a Scotish Masonic Benevolent

Institution , where our aged worthy brothers and orphans « n be cared for , will do much to raise the Scotish Craft in the estimation of the other sister Grand Lodges , and 'he Craft in general . I feel sure it will have the support w all good Masons . It is a source of regret that some-• Mng of this kind bas not been thought of before ; if we

Scottish Freemasonry.

cannot be foremost in the race of doing good , don't let us b ; so far behind . I have no doubt that the Grand Bodies will do all they can to facilitate this e > . cellent scheme . There are also , in my opinion , other subjects that require reforming , such as strict adherence to our Constitution . Laws are of no use unless obeyed ; also the initiation and joining fees arc too

low ; I think they could with propriety be raised so as to benefit the Craft in other ways than raising the dignity of our Order . It has at the present time somewhat the appearance of benefit societies . In short , I think Masonry in Scotland is cheap , consequently a little lax . I am proud to say that 4 S 9 is second to no lodge in this country . I have no intention of boasting , simply my opinion , and I

believe it will bc accepted as intended , viz ., for the good and welfare of the Scottish Craft . If foreign lodges ( S . C . ) are allowed to have the honour of participating in this grand design , I should have much pleasure in representing the brethren in this part of the globe . I believe it would tend rather to enhance , than to act as any impediment to the object the promoters have in

. If you deem this worthy , and concur with mc , please forward the circulars and other necessary information , and in return I will pledge myself to do my best . Trusting you will excuse tor any seeming forwardness on my part , I beg to remain , yours fraternally ; - ( Signed ) Ww . DOIIRELL , " ) A voice R . W . M . 489 . [ from the Constantinople . ) East .

Masonic Ball At Atherstone.

MASONIC BALL AT ATHERSTONE .

For some time past expectation has been rife in this town in consequence of the report that the Freemasons of the lodge meeting in the town had determined upon giving a Masonic ball . The report proved true , the ball being held on 5 th February last , at the Town Hall , the usual place of meeting of the brethren of the Athelstan Lodge .

The hall and staircase were lined with shrubs and elegant greenhouse ferns , while the walls were decorated with flags . The ball-room was most elaborately decorated with trophies of the chase , such as stags' heads , antlers , fox ' s heads , and " tails " wc were going to say , but our readers would scout any Leicestershire man who could say tails when , of course , he meant brushes . Crossed swords

seemed a favourite decoration , and at one end of the room we found an old Brown Bess , which we were told had " done some service at Waterloo , " while opposite to it was an elegantly silver-mounted fowling-piece some two centuries old , while between the two , and beneath a grand red deer ' s head , there hung a small frame containing a mysterious document , headed Provincial Grand Lodge of

Warwick , and intimating that all Masons were permitted upon this occasion to display the gorgeousness of their Masonic apparel before the eyes of the uninitiated , a permission which was duly taken advantage of—many of the brethren appearing resplendent iu apron , collar , cuffs , and jewellery . Dancing commenced at half-past nine o ' clock , and was kept up with great spirit until twelve ,

when supper was announced , and , the ball-room deserted for the supper-room , which was also elegantly decorated and draped , perhaps the most satisfactory decoration , however , was the supper table , spread . with a most recherchee supper , to which about 100 guests sat down , and we trust , enjoyed as much as wc did ourselves . The Masons may fairly be congratulated upon having secured

so good a caterer for their first ball , as Mrs . Mingan ( of the Red Lion ) proved herself . After the toast of " The Queen and Roya ! Family , " proposed by the W . M ., Bro . Banbury , of London , proposed in a few well-chosen words the health of the W . M ., Bro . Page , who after acknowledging the compliment proposed " The Ladies , " to which Bro .

Ch . Phillips responded . A return was then made to the ball-room , where half-past five found the dancers almost as numerous as ever ; at six o ' clock , however , the final galop was danced , and " God save the Queen " played by the band , and very soon afterwards | the rooms were emptied , the general parting words being " Give another ball next year , and don't forget to send us an invitation . "

Multum In Parbo; Or Masonic Notes And Queries.

Multum in Parbo ; or Masonic Notes and Queries .

MASONIC BIBLIOGRAPHY . " Unparalleled sufferings of John Coustos , who nine times underwent the most cruel tortures ever invented by man , in order to extort from him the secrets of Freemasonry ; to which is added many valuable pieces on Masonry . Date 1790 . " The above is copied from a book list sent to me a few

days ago . I immediately applied for it , but some one had been before me . Can any of your readers tell me who was John Coustos , and what were the nature of the tortures inflicted upon him ? Should this meet the eye of the purchaser of the book , I hope he will kindly put himself in communication with you on the subject . G . BALDWIN .

"THE FREEMASON ' MAGAZINE . " At page 75 , I observe our esteemed Bro . W . J . Hughan asking the last date of this paper . As I suppose it is the "Freemason's Magazine and Masonic Mirror" that he refers to , perhaps you will allow me to state that the last copy I got , was dated November 4 th , 1871 . This , I think , was its last appearance . W . P . BUCHAN .

The Earl of Hardwicke , speaking at the Cambridgeshire Hunt dinner on Thursday night , referred to the game question , and said that the present agitation was entirely the fault of the game preservers , who , instead of giving away the game to the farmers on whose crop it had subsisted , sent it to market .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Oxfordshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF OXFORDSHIRE .

A Provincial Grand Lodge was held at the University Alasonic Hall on the morning of Tuesday , February 16 th . There were present , besides the officers of the lodge , the following visitors : —Bros . Lord Skelmersdale , Deputy Grand Alaster ; W . B . Beach , Prov . Grand Master of Hants

and Isle of Wight ; Theodore W . Talbot , Prov . Grand Alaster Western Division , South Wales ; E . [ . Morris , Deputy Prov . Grand Master , do . ; Colonel Adair , P . Prov . Grand Alaster , Somerset ; Fred . Davison , Prov . G . S . Warden , Aliddlesex . The Deputy Prov . Grand Alaster , Bro . R . J . Spiers , presided . The bye-laws , which had been entrusted to a committee for revision , were considered and passed . There was no other business .

Grand Mark Lodge.

GRAND MARK LODGE .

An especial Grand Lodge of this degree was held on Tuesday last , at the Hall , 2 , Red Lion-square , for the purpose of nominating a Grand Master in the place of Earl Percy , M . P ., whose term of office as M . W . G . M . has expired . Earl Percy presided , having Bro . S . Rosenthal in the G . S . W . chair ; Bro . J . H . Wynne in the G . J . W . chair ;

Bro . F . Binckes , P . G . J . W , as Deputy Grand Master ; and Bro . H . Dubosc , as G . S . B . Bro . II . W . Binckes , Assistant G . Secretary , acted as G . Secretary , and the other brethren present were Bros . H . Parker , G . Org . ; W . Worrell , B . S . Fountain , S . AI . Lazarus , II . R . Trigg , T . Horton , W . Stidolph , Joseph Spencer , Israel Abrahams , T . Mortlock , J . E . Middleton , ar . d E . Gilbert . Grand Lodge having

been opened , Bro . II . W . Binckes read the summons convening the meeting , and announced the receipt of letters of apology for non-attendance from Bros . James Stevens , and T . B . Yeoman , and a telegram from Bro . I . J . II . Wilkins . The Af . W . G . M . then rose , and said he wished to say a few words on the subject of his term of office havin . '

expired , in order that there might be no misapprehension in the matter . The Order of Alark Alaster Alasons in t : is country was good enough , in the year 1872 , to elect him its Grand Master , and the kindness which they showed 10 him at that time was the more marked because he was then in a state of health which incapacitated him fr . mi performing the duties of his office , and he wasconscmicnilv

not able to be installed in the chair for several months afterwards . He felt the kindness of the brethren very much , but at the same time he had always felt that the fact of his being unable to undertake the duties thev h : i I called him to fulfil , was no excuse for his having a lunger term of office than the Grand Alark Alaster was usually called on to accept . He had in fact no doubt abu ,. t tlie

matter , and when at the last meeting of Grand Lotlge hj knew that the Grand Master would have to be prop ; ; e . l , it never occurred to him for a moment that his name w .. uU be brought before Grand Lodge as the Grand Mast r for the ensuing year . He was therefore extremely surprised , though at the same time extremel y flattered , when lie found he had again been proposed to fill the chair . But

this did occur to him , that in the first place it was not perhaps a good precedent to establish . One i . f th .-. fundamental regulations of their Order was that the Grand Alaster should hold his office for one year only , but that he should be eligible for re-election for three years , n . i-l after that term he should not be eligible again until S . MII ¦ other brother was chosen as Grand Master for at I . a t one

year . He did not think that it was a good thing to establish a precedent which should go to prove that because a Grand Master should be incapacitated—from wh . iu-v .-r cause—from performing his duties , he should have a term of office extending to four years instead of three . Tlii < would be the case were he again to accept the office which the brethren had so kindly proposed he should be elected

to . Besides that , he also felt that as time went on he did not find his occupations diminish , and he did not therefore conscientiously feel that he could give the full time to the duties , which were rather important duties , and if they were to be performed efficiently , they were duties which required a certain amount of time and attention . The brethren had a right to expect that a Grand Master would

devote his time to the office , and , as he had not the time , he considered it his duty not to allow himself again to be proposed , as the brethren had so generously wished , for the fourth time . He only wished to remove any impression which might arise in their minds that he was not alive to the very great kindness and good feeling which had dictated that proposal . Ever since he had been a Alason ,

and certainly ever since he had been a Alark Mason , bc had met , both in the Craft and the Alark , and every other degree , with the greatest kindness and brotherly assistance and good feeling , and he would extremely regret if in leaving the chair ot Grand Master , which he had now held for three years , and the tenure of which had been a source of great gratification tc himself , he should leave the

impression on the minds of the brethren that he was insensible to the kindness he had received . Therefore , he must beg of them not to think that it was anything of that sort . If he had had the faintest idea that he would have been proposed at the last meeting in December , he would not have given them the trouble to call the Especial Grand Lodge , but he thought he would not have been proposed , and that the constitutions would have been observed , and

another Grand Alaster proposed . They would now proceed to nominate a Grand Master in his place for the next tyvelve months . ( Applause . ) Bros . S . Rosenthal , acting as G . S . W ., thtn rose and said that it was with great regret they heard that Earl Percy would not allow himself to be put in nomination for another year ; but as it was his wish , of course they must respect his wishes . He therefore rose to propose a Grand